Dennis' Whiskey Corner
Serving Information and Reviews to the Curious Drinker Since 1997.
Scotch Whisky
- disclaimer -Question: Is Scotch also whiskey?Scotch whisky is similar to Irish whiskey with one main exception: Scotch grains are usually heated over an open peat fire. It is also more common to make Scotch whisky only from malted barley rather than from a mix of grain and malt. For any other comparison please read why Ireland's whiskeys are smoother than Scotch.Answer: Not necessarily, some Scotch is a brand of transparent tape made by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M), but the amber colored liquor called Scotch is whiskey, although the Scots spell it whisky.
The reader may have noticed that I give Scotch a hard time. I freely admit that I am not very fond of it. Peat is defined as A substance of vegetable origin, consisting of roots and fibers, moss, etc., in various stages of decomposition.* My palate just does not appreciate the subtleties of rotting vegetable smoke. As I like to say: Don't Drink the Sod! Maybe if I grew up in the highlands it would actually be my favorite variety of whiskey, but I doubt it. (Lowland single malts tend to have very little peat, from what I gather. When I have a chance to sample a few I shall add my reflections and comparisons.) If you enjoy drinking Scotch on a regular basis, the you have my admiration and my prayers.
However, just because I prefer Irish whiskey generally does not mean I don't crave a drop of Scotch whisky from time to time. I do have very catholic tastes. I even drink Pernod, Grappa, and Campari on occasion, although they repel most people. I have not had much reason to pay attention to brands of Scotch whisky, so I only think of it in two flavors: Single Malt and Blended. Luckily for the visiting Scotch drinker, a friend of mine has written a few reviews for your reading pleasure based or a recent tasting session.
My site is rather thin on details about Scotch whiskey, but there are already plenty of websites out there for your reading pleasure. For more information try About Scotch Whisky or The Ultimate Whisky Index.
Single Malt
(Reviews by staff writer René Côte)Laphroaig
Highly flavorful, distinct smell, very smooth. Provides the strongest peat and smokiest taste of all samplings. Smoky taste continues to build after swallowing--WOW!Aberlour
Flavorful and smooth, couple notches down the "Peat Richter Scale" from Laphoaig.Glenfiddich
The 3 Glens were my favorites. I had a difficult time deciding so I was forced to sample a couple of times. I became somewhat "taste bud impaired" after these samplings.(Glenfiddich Homepage)
Glenlivet
My favorite, just the right blend of "peat and smokiness" very smooth.Glenmorangie
An excellent second choice, I think. . .or was it the Glenfiddich?MacAllan
Mild and smooth. Least peat tasting of the sampling.Blair Athol
Didn't sample only viewed the sealed bottle under the scrutinized eye of its owner. I was told that it can be purchase at the distillery in Scotland and 2 golf courses; Saint Andrews and another somewhere in the hills of England. I imagine that after several drams of B.A. it might become difficult to determine the difference between a pitcher and a mashie niblick.Blended
Non-Scotch Scotch
Inishowen
A specialty peated blend of malt and grain whiskey. It is produced by the Cooley Distillery in Ireland. I have never seen it in the U.S.(Inishowen Homepage)
Connemara
A single-malt whiskey, it is also a product of the Cooley Distillery. Their stocks of mature peated malt are limited so sales have been concentrated in a few selected markets in Ireland, the Great Britain, France, and the United States. John Teeling and Jim Finn of Cooley just informed me that fadó Irish Pub in Buckhead (part of Atlanta) has a few drops on hand. I plan to visit for a tasting session soon. Review to follow.(Connemara Homepage)
Sullivans Cove
Made by Tasmania Distillery, this label includes two varieties: Single Malt Australian Whisky and Premium Blend Scotch Whisky. I am only guessing that the Australian Whisky is similar to Scotch, it may be an un-peated variety, like Irish whiskey.Nikka
I have heard that whiskey made in Japan is kind of like Scotch, although they use the peat very sparingly. If you can read Japanese try the Nikka Whisky Website then write to me and tell me about the whiskeys of Japan.
